Self-dumping ash tray



l sept. 22, 1953 G J, CONRAD '2,652,831

SELF-DUMPING ASH TRAY Filed June 4, 1951` INVENTOIL GEORGE .J. CONRADATTORNEY 25 g l FIG. 5 @v /QM Patented Sept. 22, 1953 UNITED-- STATESPATENT OFFICE SELF-DUMPING Asn TRAY George J. Conrad, Baltimore, Md.

Application June 4, 1951, Serial No. 229,709

(C1. ISI- 240) 2 Claims.

This invention relates to ash trays and more particularly to those usedfor holding lighted cigars, cigarettes and the like and retaining theirbutts and ashes.

It is an object of this invention to provide an ash tray suitable forholding lit cigarettes and cigars, that will automatically dump the litarticle when it burns down to a predetermined length and operates itsmechanism, to dump the lit article into the tray, and prevent the litarticle from falling out of the tray and burning the surroundings.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved selfdumping ash tray that will enable a lighted cigarette or cigar when laidon the tray to keep burning until it burns beyond a certain limit whereits heat automatically dumps the lighted article into the tray.

An additional object of this invention is to provide a new and improvedash tray that will have the features indicated, and at the same time beattractive in appearance, effective in operation and economical tomanufacture.

For a better understanding of the invention and the objects thereofreference is made to the accompanying drawings employed to illustrate aparticular form and which are described in the following specication.The claims emphasize the scope of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an ash tray embodying this invention;

Figure 2 is a plan View of the ash tray;

Figure 3 is a sectional elevation taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a sectional elevation taken across the ash tray on line 4--4of Figure 2; and

Figure 5 is a detail indicating the structure of the mechanism fordumping a cigarette held by its rest.

Similar reference characters refer to the same parts throughout thedrawings.

In the structure shown in Figure l, a tray Il) is of open rectangularwalled construction, made interiorly deep enough to hold a largequantity of cigarette butts and ashes. It is mounted on a base II havingan open space in its center. A movable ash pan slide I2 forms the bottomof the tray I9 and supports the butts and ashes dropped thereon untilsaid pan is pulled out to dump them from the tray through an opening I3in the base I I. The Walls I4 of the tray are arcuately formed at I5 andare flat at 55 to facilitate its use. The handle I6 of the pan I2 isbent to enable the user to manipulate it conveniently.

The pan I2 runs in channels or guides I1 engaging its lateral rims toenable it to be so moved.

Supported on two of the walls of the tray are holding frames 2l) eachconsisting of a pair of side members 2| with holes therein for thesupport of an axle 22 which is rigidly attached to a cigarette holder 23that can rotate therewith about its longitudinal axis. The holder 23 ismade of metal or some other reproof and heat conducting material. Tokeep the holder 23 steady, a thermostatic bimetallic or expansible heatactuated strip 24 is formed into a coiled spring I8 With one end portion25 rigidly attached to the adjacent wall of the tray. The other endportion 26 of spring I8 is secured to the holder 23, at a point thereofoffset from the longitudinal axis of the holder so that when the stripexpands or contracts it will actuate the holder and rotate it about thelongitudinal axis of axle 22 outwardly from the wall and dump the litcigarette butt into the ash tray. When the heat is dissipated the holderreturns to its normal position. When the lit cigarette butt 30 is placedon the holder it will, when burned down enough, bring its lit portiondirectly against the holder 23 and heat it. This heat is conductedthrough the strip 24 and expands it, tilts the holder and dumps the litcigarette into the tray. With the heated portion of the cigarettediscarded and away from the strip, the latter cools off and shrinks toits former length, pulling the holder back rotatively to its formerposition, ready to receive another cigarette lit or otherwise. Whenthere are a great many butts and ashes in the tray, the user takes thelatter to a clustpan, pulls out the pan I2 and dumps them. A slantingmetal plate 21 attached to the wall under the holder acts as a stop forthe holder 23 in its dumping stroke. The holder surface is arranged sothat the cigarette can rest on it without falling off.

While but one general form of the invention is shown in the drawing anddescribed in the specification, it is not desired to limit thisapplication for patent to this particular form, as it is appreciatedthat other forms could be made that would use the same principles andcome within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

l. As an article of manufacture, an ash tray, a pair of spaced-apartside members carried by the ash tray, an axle having its ends housed insaid members, said ends being rotatable in said members, a cigaretteholder mounted on said axle and fast therewith, and a thermostaticelement coiled about said axle, said element having one end secured tothe ash tray and its opposite end secured to the holder at a pointthereof offset from its longitudinal axis, whereby expansion of theelement due to heat imparted thereto by a. burning cigarette on theholder rotates the axle and tilts the holder to force the cigarette intothe ash tray and thereafter, contraction of the element will restore theholder and axle to their normal position.

2. An article of manufacture as set forth in 4 inner side of the ashtray between the upper and lower end portions thereof and having aportion directly below the cigarette holder to contact said holder.

GEORGE J. CONRAD.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 596,138 Blanchard Dec. 28, 1897 1,456,975 Fergus May 29, 19232,016,560 Rettich Oct. 8, 1935 2,034,710 Carlson Mar. 24, 1936 2,244,149Grantham June 3, 1941

